Extension device



April ,1935. w. s. LEDEFQER 7 1,996,517

EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Oct. 19, 1931- liver/7a? I Patented Apr. 2, 193

UNITED sTATEs nxrnnsron nnvrcn Walter s. Lederen l'rovldence, an."

Application October 19,

9 Claims. (01. 24-71) My present invention relates to the jewelry art, and has particular reference to the con struction of extension devices for bracelets and watch straps;

Extension devices have heretofore been made with folding or sliding plates adapted to be releasably locked in folded position; and adjustments have also been provided for permitting changes in the overall length of the extension device to accommodate the wrists of different wearers.

-In order to reduce the thickness of the extension device while at, the same time providing a length adjustment, Lhave devised a combination fold 'and slide'type extension 'device designed to open with a relatively large extension and containing mechanism for manually adjusting the length of the extension device when closed. I have also formed the adiusting mechanism. to positively prevent extension in length while the extension device is closed.

With these and other advantageous features in view, the invention consists of a novel arrangement of parts more fully disclosed in the following. detailed description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, and more particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing the extension device in closed position and adjusted for length;

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, with the ex.- tension device in extended position; I

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal enlarged section of the closed extension device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the base plate;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the other plates;

' and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an assembled extension device and showing a modified construction. W

Referring to the drawing, the bracelet or watch strap I0, preferably formed of separate links H, includes an adjustable extension device 12. The extension device I2 comprises a base plate l3 secured to one end of the strap it, in which a plate I6 is slidably. mounted, an intermediate plate l5 hinged to the slide plate I 6, and a top plate l6 hinged to the intermediate 59 plate I5 and secured to the other end of the str'aplfi. w

As shown in Fig. 4, the base plate It has side channel members ii, a longitudinal opening is, and a series of longitudinally positioned detents l9, a tongue 20 at the forward end having aslot 1931, Serial 'No. 569,693

2! to suitably receive a connecting link attached .to the strap end. '1he slide plate" It, see Fig. 5, .hasside channels 22 adaptedto slide in the channels II, a spring finger or tongue 23 which is preferably struck up from the plate l4 and which 5 is engageable with any of the detents l9, and depending fingers or stops 24 which slide in the opening I8 to form stops for preventing removal of the slide plate from the base plate.

Preferablmthe hinge pin 25 which connects 0 the top plate to the intermediate plate is extended at the ends to releasably engage with the edges of the'slide plate, in order to releasably lock the extension device in closed position. The hinge pin maybe positioned to snap below the edges of the base plate, thus permitting inward longitudinal movement of the slide plate as hereinafter described. '"A'lip as is provided at the end of the top plate, for engagement by the finger of the wearer, to open theclosed extension device.

When the device is assembled as shown in Fig. .3, it will be notedthat the spring tongue 23 is in engagement with the detents l9 and is additional- 1y locked by pressure of the intermediate plate l5 thereon, the ends of the pin being engaged as with the side channel members I! of the'base plate. In this position the plate I4 is movable to contract the extension device, the spring tongue sliding over the detents until the desired adjust--. ment is reached. when the lip 26 is engaged -30 manually and the top plate I6 is swung awayfrom the base plate, the tongue 23 which remains in engagement withthe'detents may be manually liftedto permit movement of the plate It in a direction to extend the extension. device.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the spring finger 23 may be readily shifted by moving the slide plate, thus changing the overall length of the'extension device; the intermediate plate seats on the spring finger, and thus positively locks it in place when 40 the extension device is closed, against ,outward movement.

- The described construction is suitable for bracelets and watch straps of any type, whether link, mesh, leather, etc.; it is preferred-however, to use a modified form of top plate for ladies bracelets'and watch straps, as the width must be kept small. For this duty, the construction shown in Fig.6 is preferred, the bottom plate 30 having side channels 8i-3l for stiffening the plate and-to i receive therebetween the intermediate-plate 32 which is pivotally connected to the slide plate 38, the latter being slidable within the bottom plate to. The top plate 86 is laterally extended to cover the intermediate plate 32, and the channels as F of the base plate, and has depending sides 35- 35 and spring lock fingers 38-46 to close over the sides oi the channels 3! and releasably grip the latter. A manually engageable lip 31 is positioned at the hingedend oi the top plate to facilitate opening.

The described construction of spring finger permits a selective setting or the extension device during closing, and a further shortening after the extensiondevice is closed, by longitudinally shifting the two sliding parts towards each other, as the spring finger will ratchet over the detents for shortening movement but will be firmly locked ment, number and size 0! the parts, and in their" operation, may be made, within the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

'I claim:

1. In an extension device, a plate, a slide element slidably mounted therein, a series of spaced detents on said plate, a spring finger on said slide element and means hingedly connected to one end of said slide element and ioldable thereagainst' and a top plate hinged to said intermediate plate and releasably engageable with said base in oneposition to contract the device and foldable away therefrom in another position to expand the device, said means when in said firstmentioned position engaging with said spring finger to press it in selected engagement with said detents.

2. In an extension device, a plate, a slide element slidably mounted therein, a series of spaced detents on said plate, a spring finger on said slide element, and means comprising a plurality of hingedly interconnected plate members hingedly connected to one end of said slide element and foldabl'ethereagainst in one position to contract the device and Ioldable away thereirom in another position to expand the device, said means when in said first mentioned position engaging with said spring finger to press it in selected engagement with said detents.

3. An extensible connector for bracelets comprising a member adapted to be connected to one end of a bracelet, a second member adapted to be connected to the other end oi! a bracelet, and

a third member slidably connected within one of said-members and pivotally connected-to the other or said members, means for releasablv locking said members in iolded contracted podtion, and adjustable means including a pawl on one oi said relatively slidable members and ratchet means on the other of said relatively slidable members for holding said third member in different positions or adjustment within said slidable member.

4. an extensible connector for bracelets comprising a member adapted to be connected to one end of a bracelet, a second member adapted to be connected to the other end or a bracelet. and a third member connected relatively slidably within one of the above-recited members and pivotally connected to the other thereof, means for releasably locking said members in foldedcontracted position, and adjustable means ineluding a pawl on one of said relatively slidable members and pawl-engaging means on the other of said relatively slidable members for holding said third member in different positions oi adjustment within said slidable member.

5. In an extension device, a base plate, a slide plate slidably mounted therein, a series of spaced depressions on said base plate, a finger on said slide plate releasably engageable with a selected depression, a top plate hingedly connected to said slide plate, andcoacting means on said top plate and said base plate for releasably locking said top plate to said base plate, said finger and said depressions being formed and arranged to permit sliding movement in one direction and to prevent sliding movement in the opposite direction of said finger with respect to said depressions, after locking of said top plate to said base plate.

6. In an extension device, a base plate having side channels, a longitudinal opening, and 1011- gitudinally spaced finger receiving depressions, a

' slide plate having side channels slidable in said in said longitudinal opening, an intermediate plate hinged to said slide plate and adapted to contact said spring finger and press the same into engagement with the selected depression,

plate. 7. In an extension device, a base plate having side channels, alongitudinal, opening, and 10D: gitudinally spaced finger receiving depressions, a slide plate having side channels slidable in said base plate side channels, and having a spring finger selectively engageable with said depressions, and also having a stop movably positioned in said longitudinal opening, an intermediate plate hinged'to said slide plate and adapted to contact said spring finger and press the same into engagement with the selected depression, and a top plate hinged to said intermediate plate and releasably engageable with said slide plate. 8. An extensible connector for bracelets comprising, a base member, a top member and a link, said link having one of its ends slidably connected within one of said members and its other prising a member to be connected to ,one end oi a bracelet, 'a second member to be connected to the other end of the bracelet, a third member slidably connected to the first member and pivotally connected to the second member, means for. releasably locking said members in folded contracted position, and adjustable means ror holding said third member in different positions or length adjustment with respe t .to said first member, including a series or detent's on the first member and aspring pawl on the slidable member selectively engageable with said detents.

of adjustment within said 9. An extensible connector for bracelets com- 

